Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori

"The United Arab Emirates is an important and promising foreign trade partner of Bulgaria among the Gulf countries," said Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy Mariana Nikolova, quoted by the Council of Ministers' press service. Nikolova met with UAE Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori in Dubai.

A delegation of the United Arab Emirates has been received by Bulgarian Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski in Sofia on Wednesday, the Economy Ministry has said.

Lukarski and his counterpart Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori have also kicked off a Bulgarian-Emirati business forum in the capital.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will be looking for UAE investors during his visit to Dubai later this month, government sources say.

The visit is most likely to be scheduled for April 27-28, the sources are quoted by daily Standart as saying.

Boyko Borisov, leader of center-right party GERB, has vowed a direct flight connecting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Sofia in 2015.